The promising Bayern midfielder is eligible for Canada, where he was born, and Wales, the land of his mother, but insists he will play only for the country of his father. "I have committed myself to England," he said.

Hargreaves, 20, has played three times for Howard Wilkinson's under-21s, all of them friendly fixtures, which has kept his international options open. Now he says he is ready to play in a competitive match, probably England Under-21s' game with Greece on June 5, which would end the hopes of Canada and Wales.

As for the possibility of representing Germany, having lived there for four years, Hargreaves said: "I am not German. I would never play for Germany. I was born in Canada, my mother is from Rhyl and my father is from Bolton."

Wilkinson has been quietly wooing Hargreaves and it appears the Football Association technical director's good work has paid off.

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The one impediment to blooding Hargreaves against Greece is that he could require surgery on his left ankle after Bayern's meeting with Valencia in Milan on May 23.

"I have had a few injections to get through and the worst-case scenario is that I will have an operation in the summer," said Hargreaves, who joined the German club from Calgary Foothills in 1997.

There were enough signs in his first European start, Wednesday night's 2-1 defeat of Real Madrid, to indicate that a player who speaks with a Canadian-German accent could conceivably provide England with options in deep central midfield. "That is my best position," Hargreaves said, "anchoring midfield."

His coach, Ottmar Hitzfeld, was effusive in his praise. "He showed no nerves at all on such a big occasion," Hitzfeld said. "He's young, dynamic, strong and also has deceptive speed."

Bayern's president, Franz Beckenbauer, added: "It is hard to believe Hargreaves can turn in a performance like that. Perhaps he never had a chance to show what he could do, but last night he did."

So concerned was Beckenbauer about all the attention suddenly enveloping Hargreaves that he sent down word to the dressing room that the new boy was not to talk to the media.

Hargreaves, though, seems eminently capable of keeping his feet on the floor. He smiled modestly and issued a polite "thank you" when complimented about how smoothly he had glided past Luis Figo at one point. He appreciated hearing the fans' applause. "When you have a couple of actions that they like you hear from them," he said. "I enjoyed that."

He used the ball efficiently, occasionally very imaginatively, and even took responsibility for set-pieces when Mehmet Scholl was substituted.

"He played clear, simple balls," said Stefan Effenberg, whose suspension against Real not only gave Hargreaves his chance but has given Hitzfeld an intriguing selection poser against Valencia in the final.

Owen Hargreaves Factfile

Born: Calgary, Canada, Jan 20, 1981 Position: Midfielder Clubs: Calgary Foothills, Bayern Munich England under-21 caps: 3 Bundesliga appearances: 12 1981: Parents Colin (English) and Margaret (Welsh) emigrate to Calgary. As a 16-year-old Hargreaves is spotted by a Calgary-based German coach with connections in Munich playing for Calgary Foothills as they win the Canadian under-15 championship. July 1997: Signs professional forms with Bayern Munich September 2000: Picked for Welsh under-21s squad for game against Belarus but withdraws to train with England. November 2000: Makes England under-21 debut against Italy. Match is cut short by fog. May 2001: Plays starring role in Champions' League semi-final against Real Madrid, replacing the suspended Stefan Effenberg.